Preparing vegetable fibers for spinning



Patented May 22, 1934 PREPARING VEGETABLE FIBERS FOR SPINNING Arthur W. Withey, Lynn, Mass.

N Drawing. Application March 8, 1932,

Serial No. 597,634

9 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in processes for preparing vegetable fibers, chiefiy flax, for spinning into yarn. An object of my invention is to shorten the time period required for preparing suitable fibers for spinning, to simplify the process, and to reduce the expense. The process is essentially a degumming operation. In this operation, it is desirable to remove only i a part of the gums or cementitious material,

' leaving a sufiicient amount to hold together as many of the elementary fibers as are required in any particular method of spinning.

The processes which have been used in the past for this purpose depend upon a natural bacteriological degumming of the fibers. This may be accomplished either by spreading the straw in fields and permitting the natural dew to act upon it; or by holding the straw under stagnant wav ter. In either case, the essential part of the process consists in the action of bacteria on the cementitious material. These natural processes require a long time and are largely dependent upon weather conditions. Furthermore, great care and skill are necessary, as well as a large amount of labor. Though it has been suggested that the action of bacteria be influenced by artificial means and methods in order to hasten the process, such means and methods have not come into general or accepted use, so far as known.

I have discovered that the degumrning of these natural fibers may be very markedly facilitated and expedited by the use of yeast (Blastomycetes) as distinguished from bacteria (Schizomycetes). Not only is the process very much more simple to carry out, but it is readily possible to arrange conditions so that the process is complete in a matter of two or three days, as compared with I the many days or even weeks required by the 0 previous methods.

In my invention I use a yeast in solution which ferments quickly when raised to the proper temperature in contact with the gum. This fermentation reduces the gum in quantity as desired,

e5 yet leaves enough to hold or cement the fibers in units, capable of producing long line fibers unimpaired in strength and quality.

Referring now to the practice of my process,

7 the straw or fibers upon which I apply the same is obtained in the usual and well known manner from vegetable plants, particularly flax, which may be grown either for seed or for fiber. If the straw stock to be treated has been harvested by pulling, it is first derooted and then deseeded and .55 freed from leaves. According to another modification of my process, the straw may also be de corticated which leaves the fibers practically free from the woody marrow and most of the skin or shives. In either case, the straw or fibers are put into a suitable container andcovered' with water, preferably distilled. The liquid is then inoculated with yeast and allowed to stand, pref erably at body temperature (98-l00' F.), for two or three days or so, depending upon the extent to which it is desired to remove the gum. Lime-v 66' stone, marble or any alkali, not injurious to the yeast, may be added toneutralize any acid produced. After this period the material is treated to extract as much of the liquid as possible. This i may be done by squeezing, rolling, centrifuging 70 or by any other suitable method. The fibers are next washed with warm water. If not previously decorticated, the straw should be dried at this point and then decorticated. The decorticated straw fibers or the fibers di- [5' rect from the warm water washing, may now be given a wash in a solution consisting of water, one-tenth of one per cent of soap, and one-tenth of one per cent of soda ash for about fifteen minn utes. The temperature of this washing liquid 0" should not be over F. This is followed by two warm water washes after which the excess water is removed by wringing, centrifuging, or any convenient method.

The fiber mass is then preferably given an acid 35" bath in a solution consisting of water and one per cent of acid, preferably sulfuric, and is allowed to remain at a temperature of 200 F., but in no case higher than 212 F. The effect of the acid bath is, first, to neutralize any alkali remaining 96" from previous washes or baths, and, second, probably it is believed, to form pectic acid which is not soluble in water but, in any event, there isformed' a coating on the outside of the fibers which makes the surface of the fibers more brilliant and leaves as them stronger and more elastic.

From this acid bath, if employed, thematerial is squeezed, rolled or centrifuged and washed with warm water to remove all free acid. The material may then be and preferably is given a bath in a 16 softening solution consisting of warm water. onetenth of one per cent of neutral soap, and onetenth of one per cent of Turkey red oil. After a period of fifteen minutes or more, the material is squeezed, rolled or centrifuged and ready for 1d drying at a temperature preferably not over 140 F.

Having described my invention, what I wish to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The method of degumming natural vegell table fibers for spinning which consists in subjecting said fibers to the action of blastomycetes, washing the fibers thus treated, and" then subjecting the treated fibers to the action of a Weak acid bath.

2. The method or" degumming natural vegetable fibers for spinning which consists in subjecting said fibers to the actionof warm Water inoculated with blastomycetes, washing the fibers thus treated, and then subjecting the treated fibers to the action of a weak acid bath.

3. The method of degumming natural vegetable fibers for spinning which consists in subjecting said fibers to the action of blastomycetes, washing the fibers thus treated, then subjecting the same to a wash in a solution of Water, soap and an alkali, rinsing the fibers and then subjecting the fibers to the action of a weak acid bath.

4. The method of degumming natural vegetable fibers for spinning which consists in subjecting said fibers to the action of blastomycetes, washing the fibers thus treated, and then subjecting'the treated fibers to the action of a weak sulphuric acid bath.

,5. The method of degumming natural vegetable fibers for spinning which consists in subjecting said fibers to the action of warm water inoculated with blastomycetes, washing the fibers thus treated,' and then subjecting the treated fibers to the action of a Weak sulphuric acid bath.

6. The method of degumming natural vegetable fibers for spinning which consists in subjecting said fibers to the action of blastomycetes, washing the fibers thus treated, then subjecting the same to a wash in a solution of water, soap and an alkali, rinsing the fibers and then subjecting the fibers to the action of a weak sulphuric acid bath.

7. The method of dcgumming natural vegetable fibers for spinning which consists in subjecting said fibers to the action of blastomycetes in the presence of an acid neutralizer to render and maintain the bath substantially neutral.

8. The method of degumming natural vegetable fibers for spinning which consists in subjecting said fibers to the action of blastomycetes 7 1n the presence of an acid neutralizer to render and maintain the bath substantially neutral, washing the fibers thus treated, and neutralizing said fibers.

9. The method of degumming natural vegetable fibers, for spinning which consists in subjecting said fibers to the action of blastomycetes in the presence of an acid neutralizer selected from the group comprising limestone and marble.

ARTHUR W. 

